Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – Magnificent goals are achievable if…if our spirits stay happy…if our morale stays high. (Charles Swindoll, American pastor and author)

It’s hard to accomplish anything worthwhile when we are sad and despondent or we are not highly motivated. On the other hand, when we are upbeat, in a good mood, and have good reason to work hard, our achievement can be almost unlimited. So, we would do well to create a happy environment as we begin to work on tasks that we feel good about pursuing.

 When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you (Psalm 128:2).

STOP AND THINK – Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. (Marie Curie, pioneering Polish-French scientist)

It seems like a lot of people are living in fear of one thing or another—their health, natural disasters, world-wide conflict. Madame Curie suggests that if we can understand life’s real situations, we would have less to fear. Surely, it is true that knowledge and understanding can relieve fear, but life involves more than the physical and mental. Don’t forget the spiritual!

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

STOP AND THINK – If you are going to eat an elephant, the best way to do it is one bite at a time. (Ken Duncan, Australian professional photographer)

We’ve heard this idea before, and we think of it as a joke, especially when Duncan continues with a pun, “If you sit back and look at how big the elephant is, you’ll never finish the “tusk.” Of course, the lesson to be learned is that big impossible-looking jobs can be successfully completed if we break them down into smaller, workable tasks.

Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun (Ecclesiastes 8:15).

STOP AND THINK – Nothing is impossible; the word itself says ‘I’m possible’! (Audrey Hepburn, British actress)

A unique observation! Has anyone else noted that combination of letters? Although there are certainly things that really cannot be done (defying the law of gravity, for instance), there are many other realities that could be changed with the right kind of effort. We ought not say, “I can’t” until we have worked diligently to the point where we can.

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23).

STOP AND THINK – Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly. (Mark Twain)

Someone has described this as “Twain’s sour attitude toward teaching/education.” Surely, he used soap, and he certainly had the benefit of learning no matter how much formal education he may have had. Perhaps the lesson for us is that the right kind of learning is most valuable but a poor education can be destructive.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life (Proverbs 13:14). In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech (Titus 2:7-8).

STOP AND THINK – Imitation is the sincerest form of laziness. (Don Harrold, financial advisor)

That’s an interesting twist on Charles Caleb Coldon’s more familiar quote, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” But it’s sometimes—maybe too often true—isn’t it? It’s so easy to use someone else’s thinking or idea rather than doing the study or giving it your own original thought. But ideas and values that stick are those that are our own.

The upright give thought to their ways (Proverbs 21:29). Give careful thought to the paths for your feet (Proverbs 4:26).

STOP AND THINK – There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. (Edith Wharton, Pulitzer prize-winning novelist)

No one has a complete grasp of knowledge, wisdom, and truth. But we can share what we do know as a candle serves as a source of light. But our knowledge is limited, so as we learn from others, we become reflectors of their knowledge. Such shared knowledge is certainly no less significant. So be quick to be a mirror of what you’ve learned, sharing it with others.

No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light (Luke 8:16).

STOP AND THNK – To be persuasive, we must be believable. To be believable, we must be credible. To be credible, we must be truthful. (Edward R. Murrow, 20^th century American broadcast journalist)

Have you ever lost an argument because you couldn’t convince anyone of your position? Was it because your reasoning was poor, your position unbelievable? Or, as Murrow suggests, was it simply that you didn’t have credibility among your peers? If you are known for being truthful and trustworthy, you will do better in convincing others of your argument.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor (Ephesians 4:25).

STOP AND THINK – Integrity and virtue have to be practiced. What we habitually do shapes us. Small habits become lifestyles. (Augustine, quoted by John Stonestreet, Christian apologist)

Those statements make it clear that if we want to be people of good character, we must practice moral and ethical living. Our habits truly do indicate what we are really like—more so than what we say. In addition, Augustine said that we are what we love. So our conduct and our emotional attachments are important when it comes to character and integrity.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true … are honest, … just … pure … lovely … of good report, … think on these things (Philippians 4:8).

STOP AND THINK – I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than regret the things I haven’t done. (Lucille Ball, TV actor, comedienne)

Some people seem to live lives of regret, always grieving over things they’ve done or relationships that didn’t work out well. Such memories are hard to deal with, but Ball encourages us to think rather about the opportunities we’ve missed to make a difference. That should spur us on to be on the lookout for the better things we could do in the future.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity (Ephesians 5:15-16).

STOP AND THINK – To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. (attributed to Bill Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous)

When we think of the world population of multiple billions, it’s easy to feel like we’re lost in the crowd and that we’re not even noted as “one person” among the multitudes. But as we develop meaningful relationships with family and friends, we may indeed, in a sense, almost be “the world” to them. We must protect and enhance those one-of-a-kind friendships.

A friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17). Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13).

STOP AND THINK – The person I am today is a direct result of my past experiences and the fact that I chose to pay attention and learn. (Chelle Thompson, editor and publisher)

Thompson says, “The common denominator in each and every relationship in our life is: ourselves.” She seems to be saying that we can benefit by paying attention to our relationships. The people we interact with have an impact on our lives and we on theirs. Every such association is an opportunity to learn and grow and help other to do the same.

I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw (Proverbs 24:32).